Research on the Performance Path of Industrial Green Total Factor Productivity in the Context of High-Quality Development—Based on Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Improving industrial green total factor productivity (GTFP) is essential for achieving high-quality industrial development in China. To explore this perspective, we examined 30 provinces as case samples and applied a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis in order to analyze the factors of technological innovation, human capital, green consumption, environmental regulation, the Internet, and external openness in relation to industrial GTFP. The findings of this study show that the configuration path of industrial GTFP has multiple concurrencies. Specifically, three paths were identified as leading to high industrial GTFP, namely, the “total factor type”, “open-technology drive type”, and “technology-human drive type”. Meanwhile, the two configuration paths of non-high-industrial GTFP displayed an asymmetric relationship. Overall, these findings are crucial in revealing the path to improving industrial GTFP and achieving high-quality industrial development in China. The “total-factor-type” and “open-technology-drive-type” paths were the most prevalent in the eastern region, while the central area leaned more towards the “technology-human drive type”. This study offers valuable recommendations and insights for policymakers and scholars interested in promoting the development of industrial GTFP.